McCarthy: Door is open for Zeke return

Stash

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Not to nitpick, and no one likes a holdout, but when holdouts were a thing, that's when players would hold out. After their 3rd year. Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald were about to do the exact same thing after their 3rd year. There was nothing out of the ordinary with what Zeke did.
Donald? Yes. Mack. No. Mack didn’t talk holdout until after his fourth season.

But I think his production falling off a cliff reinforces the idea that you don’t give a running back a big money second contract.
 

Flamma

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Donald? Yes. Mack. No. Mack didn’t talk holdout until after his fourth season.

But I think his production falling off a cliff reinforces the idea that you don’t give a running back a big money second contract.
For some reason I thought Mack and Donald did it at the same time. But you're right, Mack waited another year. I was just pointing out that holding out after your 3rd season is not a strange thing. But people keep bringing it up when referring to Zeke.
 

Stash

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For some reason I thought Mack and Donald did it at the same time. But you're right, Mack waited another year. I was just pointing out that holding out after your 3rd season is not a strange thing. But people keep bringing it up when referring to Zeke.
I confess that it’s a sore spot with me. But more towards a lousy contract negotiator giving in to the player, rather than the player trying to get it.

Zeke knew his running style had a short shelf life and tried to cash in while he could.
 

Flamma

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I confess that it’s a sore spot with me. But more towards a lousy contract negotiator giving in to the player, rather than the player trying to get it.

Zeke knew his running style had a short shelf life and tried to cash in while he could.
I will admit that I was for giving him the extension. My opinion has changed greatly since then. The dude was only 23!!! His burst was gone after he signed. Who would have expected that? People talk about injuries to excuse play, but his burst was gone in 2019. Before the injuries.
 

Stash

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I will admit that I was for giving him the extension. My opinion has changed greatly since then. The dude was only 23!!! His burst was gone after he signed. Who would have expected that? People talk about injuries to excuse play, but his burst was gone in 2019. Before the injuries.
His drop off was stark. But I honestly don’t place the blame entirely on him. I think under Philbin/Kellen Moore, the line went from powerful intimidators to a finesse running game, easily defended.

I think their chosen running style and plays were a poor fit for a power back like Zeke.
 

offlimits

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Lip service. The guy is getting dogged in the media and no team wants him. The franchise that drafted him isn’t go say one unkind word about him. Nor should they.
Agree. Honestly, he should seriously think about retirement. Why use a roster spot for a guy that would probably be 4th choice in the pecking order? 3rd at best. Even #22 was released and Zeke is no Emmitt Smith.
 

CowboyFrog

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Agree. Honestly, he should seriously think about retirement. Why use a roster spot for a guy that would probably be 4th choice in the pecking order? 3rd at best. Even #22 was released and Zeke is no Emmitt Smith.
They only reason would be to reduce his cap hit this year if he came back with a seriously reduce base cap hit i think that would be an option..we can still draft RB's and if we find gold then Zeke just kinda fades into lore..
 

DuncanIso

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They only reason would be to reduce his cap hit this year if he came back with a seriously reduce base cap hit i think that would be an option..we can still draft RB's and if we find gold then Zeke just kinda fades into lore..
He’s scored 22 TDS and has 100+ rushing first downs the last two seasons.

That’s a lot of production.
 
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